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Aptos Launches Encrypted Mempool
Aptos, a blockchain platform, has introduced an encrypted mempool on its mainnet to mitigate maximal extractable value (MEV), a mechanism that allows bots to profit from pending transactions. This feature, announced on October 12, encrypts transaction details on users' devices before submission, keeping sender addresses and fees visible. Validators order transactions without seeing their contents, which are decrypted collectively after a block is finalized. The system uses existing validators and does not require outside parties or changes to existing Move smart contracts. The feature, part of Aptos Improvement Proposal 144 (AIP-144), aims to make pending transactions harder for bots to exploit through front-running and other MEV strategies. Users can submit encrypted transactions through Aptos’ TypeScript SDK version 7.0.0 and later without modifying existing Move contracts. The feature is optional and allows users and applications to adopt encrypted transactions where needed.